Sourcing crochet braiding hair from China

UK duty and finished crochet extensions

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6704 covers wigs and similar articles of human or animal hair or textile materials. Finished synthetic crochet extensions fall within the other synthetic articles line, while finished human-hair extensions have their own material line. All supplied lines carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions.

The other-material line carries CITES and cat and dog fur import and export controls. Commercial imports containing cat or dog fur are prohibited. If animal hair is proposed, identify its species and ask your customs broker to confirm the controls for the shipment from China. CITES-listed material may need permits; confirm the applicable documents before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code against the material and finished construction, particularly for blends or loose hair supplied for further manufacture. The table shows product variants sharing material codes, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. See the dreadlock hair extensions guide for wider heading coverage.

Fibre, attachment loops and braid finish

Specify finished crochet extensions separately from loose braiding fibre. Record the fibre composition, braid or twist pattern, curl, stretched length, thickness, weight per pack and pieces per pack. Agree the attachment loop opening, knot construction, end finish and colour blend. Retain physical samples showing both the loop and the full strand.

Consumer products must be safe, and product safety compliance should be demonstrated before sale. Review scalp contact, shedding, colour transfer and the intended installation method. For synthetic hair, agree washing and styling instructions and test any heat-friendly claim on the actual fibre. Do not carry a supplier's generic heat claim onto the pack without checking it.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 300 retail packs of synthetic pre-looped crochet braids under 6704 19 00 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,200. Duty at 2% is £84. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,284, so it is £856.80. Import taxes total £940.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £84 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Loops and knots: install sampled strands with the intended crochet tool; check that loops open without splitting and knots hold without excessive force.

Length and contents: measure using the agreed stretched or unstretched method, weigh the hair separately from packaging and count pieces in sampled packs.

Colour and washing: compare against retained samples, rub against pale cloth and wash samples to check colour transfer, tangling, shedding and curl retention.

Finish and packing: check fraying, sharp fused ends, odour, dampness, crushed curls and matching shade labels. Include these checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

An attractive sample can hide production loops that are too tight to install or too loose to hold. Uneven twist tension, bulky knots and poorly sealed ends change the finished appearance. Test installation with production samples and record acceptable loop and end construction in the order.

A substituted fibre can change shine, weight, tangling and styling behaviour. Mixed colour batches produce visible shade bands across an installation, while compressed packaging can flatten curls. Compare samples from different cartons and repeat the agreed wash and styling checks before accepting the batch.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.